Safety razor



@mamma SAFETY RAZOR H. J. GAISMAN Filed Nov. '7, 1931' Patented Mar. 17, 1936v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAFETY RAZOR Application November 7, 1931, Serial No. 573,625

17 Claims.

This invention relates to safety razors of the type in which a thin, replaceable blade is positioned for shaving purposes in a holder comprising cap and guard or other relatively movable blade clamping members. In this type of razor it is desirable for the convenience of the user, in assembling the razor for shaving and disassembling it for the purpose of cleaning or replacing theblade, that the blade clamping parts should be quickly and fully moved to blade releasing position. Further, that in the open position of the holder the blade should be conveniently presented or exposed for removing or replacement without the danger of cutting the user or of being improperly positioned in the clamping operation.

In one aspect the present invention consists in a holder having blade clamping parts arranged for movement toward and from each other, and also transversely with respect to each other so that, When the blade clamping pressure is released, one of the blade clamping parts is moved automatically, or by spring action7 completely to release the blade and to permit a subsequent 25 transverse movement of the blade clamping parts to expose the blade so that it may be conveniently handled and removed from the holder.

As herein shown, I secure the desired results by providing within the handle of the razor a spring actuated member which has the function of a locking device to retain the blade clamping members in clamping position and also the function of mechanically separating these clamping members when it is released by the user. Where the holder comprises the usual cap and guard for its blade clamping members the spring actuated plunger is arranged to be detachably connected to the cap in a novel manner such that it positively controls its clamping and unclamping movement and at the same time leaves the cap free to be disengaged for relatively transverse movement with respect to the guard.

These and other features of the invention will 45 be best understood and appreciated from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, selected for the purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a View in side elevation, partly in section, of the complete razor.

Fig. 2 is a similar view rshowing the blade clamping members in position of maximum separation.

Fig. 3 is a view of the razor head in longitudinal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of the razor head showing the cap in its open position.

Fig. 5 is a plan View, partly in section, line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

on the Fig. 6 is a plan View of a blade suitable for use in the illustrated razor, and

Fig. '7 is a View in perspective of the cap in inverted position.

In the razor herein shown one of the clamp- 5 ing members comprising a cap I0 having an inner concave blade shaping face bounded by parallel longitudinal edges. At either end the cap is provided with an upstanding arm II having a longitudinal slot therein for connection with the guard member, as will presently appear. Projecting from the concave face of the cap I0 is a pair of hooked shaped lugs I2 which cornprise a part of an interlocking connection between the cap and the spring actuated spindle or locking device. It will be noted that the inner faces of the lugs I2 form a transverse passage opening freely at both sides. In the concave face of the cap is also formed a pair of spaced sockets I3 which receive the blade locating studs of the guard.

The guard member I4 cooperates with the cap I0 in shaping and clamping the blade. It is provided with an inner convex blade shaping face and with guard teeth along each longitudinal edge. From its blade shaping face projects a pair of short cylindrical studs I5 which serve positively to locate a blade in position thereon. At each end the guard is provided with a projecting lug or pin I Ii and these pins are square in cross section and arranged to slide freely in the slots of the arms II of the cap. The guard is also provided with a central longitudinal slot I'I for the reception of the hook lugs I2 when the cap and guard are brought into closed or clamping position. In the illustrated razor the handle is secured permanently to the guard I4. The handle comprises an end portion I8 riveted or welded to the guard at one end and having a cylindrical shoulder at the other for the reception of a tubular member or barrel I9. A perforated bearing member 2l] is forced into the barrel I9 and remains a permanent part of the assembly. The extreme end of the barrel I9 is ilanged inwardly to receive a hollow threaded nut 2| which is thus rotatably retained as a part of the handle.

Within the handle is mounted a solid spindle or push rod 22 which is square in cross section throughout the upper portion of its length and cylindrical in the lower portion of its length. The square portion of the spindle 22 is arranged to slide freely in a bore of square cross section formed in the upper portion I8 of the handle. The cylindrical portion is arranged to slide freely through the stationary bearing member 20 within the barrel I9. The spindle 22 is provided with a shoulder or iiange 23 between which and the bearing member 20 is interposed and a compression spring 24 tending at all times to move the 60 Yspindle 22 upwardly into the position shown in Fig. 2. The lower end 0f the spindle 22 is threaded and arranged to beengaged by the internal thread of the rotary nut 2| When the spindle is moved downwardly and the nut 2| rotated the lower end of the spindle is engaged and thel-` spindle is drawn downwardly against the compression of the spring 2| to some such position as that indicated in Fig. l. At its upperrend the Y spindle 22 carries a cross Vpinf25 substantially square in the cross section and arranged to fit beneath the hook lugs `I2 of the cap when the cap is swung into alignment with the guardas shown in Fig. 2.

A thin flexible blade 26 is .designed to be positioned'upon theblade locating studs I5 of the guard and to this end'is provided with a central longitudinalslot 21 having a pair of diamond shaped apertures or enlargements'28 of proper dimensions to t the blade locating studs I5 without lost motion. At the center of the blade is provided an aperture 29 substantially square in contour and of such .dimensions'as freely to receive' the square portion ofthe spindle 22. The slot 21 is of AYsuilicient width to permit the free passage therethrough of the cross pin 25 of the spindle 22 and also the hook shaped lugs I2 of thecap.'V Y 'Y Y' In Fig. 4 the razor is represented in its open position ready to receive a blade and it will be noted that the'capY I6 is swung transversely about the axis of the pin I5 Yinto a position substantially below the guard I4 and the spindle 22 occupies its uppermostor protruded position, with its end extending substantially above the convex face of the guard. The conditions therefore facilitate placing the blade 26 upon the guard. In this position the endV of the spindle passes through the aperture ,29 and the blade ts with its apertures Y28 uponY the blade locating studs I5 of the guard. Y Y

In clamping the blade preparatory to using the razor, the guard is swung from the position shown in Fig. 4 upwardly above the axis of the pin I6 Vto the position shown in Fig. 2 in which it is in alignment with and opposite to the guard I6. In this position the hook shaped lugs I2 havermade interlocking connection with `the cross pin 25 of the spindle 22. The cap I0 may new be depressed Y by the-user and the spindle 22 moved downwardly until its lower threadedend is engaged by the rotary nut 2|. Upon turning the nutY 2| the spindle V22 is drawn downwardly and the cap moved into clamping position toward the guard and inopposition to thespring 24. InV this movement the longitudinal edges of the cap bend the ilexible blade'25 over the convex surface of the guard I4 into some such position as that shown Y in Fig, l and the lugs I2 enter the slot I'I of the guard: The vblade 26 tends at all times to assume a flat condition and stands away from the guard I4 at its edges. Consequently the degree of edge exposure of the blade depends upon the clamping A adjustment of the rotary nut 2|. When the cap IIJ is drawn down to the limit of its movement the cutting edges of the blade are held most closely to the guard I4 in a condition of minimum edge exposure. By releasing the nut 2| a few turns or a fraction of a turn the spring 24 is permitted to lift the cap I0 allowing the blade to straighten slightly with a resulting increase in Vits edge exposure.

When it is desired to remove the blade for cleansing or replacement thenut 2| is turned reverselyYuntil the threaded-end of the spindle 22 is entirely released. Thereupon the spring 24 acts to shoot the spindle 22 outwardly and to lift or push the cap Y I0 by spring action into its position of maximum separation, as shown in Fig. 2. The flange or shoulder 23 upon the spindle, however, limits its upward movement so that in the open position shown in Fig. 2 there is no upward pressure upon the cap I0 but instead the latter is left free to fall upon one side or the other about the axis Vof the pins I6 and, since it is in a condition of unstable equilibrium, it may fall to some such position as indicated in Fig. 4 leaving the blade 26 entirely exposed upon the guard. Moreover, the entire operation is automatically effected'the razor being transformed from its clamped condition shown in Fig. 1 to its open condition shown Yin Fig. 4 by merely releasing the end of the spindle 22 from the nut Y2I. Y

It will be seen therefore that by manipulatingA the rotary nut l2| the user may not only control 1. A safety razor, having incombination, a onen piece cap and a guard shaped to clamp a blade between them, said cap being connected to said guard for limited separation, and aspringY actuated pushing spindle detachably connected 4to the cap for moving the latter by spring action away from the guard, arranged to release Vthe cap for lateral movement when separated from the guard.

2. A safety razor, having in combination, a one-V piece cap and a guard shaped to! clamp a blade between them, said cap being connected to saidl guard for limited separation, a handle connected to the guard, and a spring actuated pushing device mounted therein and detachably connectedto the cap, whereby the cap may be snapped by spring action into a position remote from the guard and then released for free lateral movement. Y

. 3. A safety razor, having in combination, a onepiece cap and a guard shaped to clamp a blade between them, said'cap being connected to said guard for limited separation, a handle connected to the guard, and a spring actuated pushing device movable in the handle and detachably connected to the cap, and means for looking said device under springV pressure, arranged to release said devicewhereby it may snap the cap into open position and there disengage it. Y

4. A safety razor, having in combination, a onepiece cap and a guard shaped to clamp a blade between them, said cap being connected to said guard for limited separation, a handle connected to the guard, a spring actuated pushing-device movable in the handle and having'V an interlockand means for limiting the spring movement of the push rod to a suitable extent.

6. A safety razor, having in combination, a guard having a handle secured thereto, a cap having slotted arms whereby it is connected to the guard for a limited movement of separation relatively thereto, a spring operating member engaging said cap and tending always to separate it from the guard, and a stop arranged to act on said member independently of the cap for limiting the movement of said member.

'7. A safety razor, having in combination, a cooperating one-piece cap and a guard member, a handle secured to one of said members, a spindle slidable under spring actuation in the handle and detachably connected to the other member, and means in the handle for engaging and drawing in the spindle when the cap and guard members are moved manually into a position of preliminary Contact, said means being arranged entirely to release the spindle and cap when it is desired to further separate the cap and guard members.

8. A safety razor, having in combination, a guard having a handle secured thereto, a cap connected to the guard for a movement of limited separation, and means extending from said handle and in direct engagement with the inside oi the cap for effecting such separation by spring action, the cap being thereupon located above the guard in a condition of unstable equilibrium.

9. A safety razor, having in combination, a guard having a handle secured thereto, a cap connected to the guard for a movement of limited separation, said cap having a lug on its inner face, and means extending from said handle and in direct interlocking engagement With said lug for effecting such separation by spring action, the cap being thereby forced to the limit of its outward movement where it is located beyond the aligning means for cap and guard and is free to swing from a position over said guard to position out of alignment with said guard.

10. A safety razor, having in combination, a guard having a tubular handle projecting therefrom, a cap having longitudinally slotted side arms connecting it to the guard, a flexible blade interposed between the cap and guard, a spring actuated pushing spindle slidable within said handle and through said guard and blade and detachably locked to said cap, and a stop within the handle for limiting the spring movement of the spindle to an amount substantially equal to the separation of the cap and guard.

l1. A safety razor, having in combination, cooperating cap and guard member for clamping a flexible blade, said cap being connected to said guard for limited separation, a spring actuated spindle extending freely through the guard for connection with the cap, and means for holding the spindle under tension With the cap in blade'- clamping position, operative to release the spindle and cause it automatically to lift the cap .out of contact with the blade.

12. A safety razor, having in combination, a guard with an attached handle, a cap cooperating with the guard to clamp a blade therebetween, said cap being connected to said guard for limited separation, a spring actuated spindle contained in the handle and extending freely through the guard into connection with the cap, and means for holding the spindle with the cap in blade-clamping position, operative to release the spindle and cause it automatically to present the cap in unclamping position remote from the guard.

13. A safety razor including in combination a thin flexible blade having a cutting edge, said razor having opposed cap and guard members provided with blade flexing surface portions, the guard having a handle secured thereto, a spindle extending through said handle and guard, coacting means on said handle and spindle forming guiding means for relative longitudinal movement thereof, the cap member having normally permanent but slidable and pivotal connection with the guard member, said connection comprising depending guide members at the ends of the cap member co-acting with means on said guard to prevent relative edgewise displacement of said cap and guard until the cap and guard have reached the position of maximum separation, co-acting interlocking lugs on the cap and sp-indle, said lugs being maintained positively in interlocking engagement by the co-acting guides of cap and guard until the position of maximum separation of cap and guard has been reached, means on said blade and guard to maintain them in position of alignment, and co-operating means on said handle and spindle to draw the clamping members into clamping iiexing position on the blade.

14. A safety razor, having in combination, a one-piece cap and a guard member arranged for clamping and unclamping movement toward and from Aeach other and for relative lateral displacement, said cap being connected to said guard for limited separation, an interposed flexible blade, locking means extending through the guard and having detachable interlocking engagement with the cap, said means being in operative engagement with a spring arranged to be energized when the blade is clamped, and means for locking and releasing the spring whereby it may snap the cap and guard into position of maximum unclamping separation when released.

l5. A safety razor, having in combination, cooperating cap and guard, said cap being connected to said guard for limited separation, a spring-actuated push rod extending movably through the guard and having connections with the cap, co-acting means on the cap, guard and push rod to maintain said cap and rod in interlocked engagement until the cap has been moved by the spring action of the rod to the limit of separation of the cap and guard.

l6. A safety razor, having in combination, cooperating cap and guard, said cap being `connected to said guard for limited separation, a spring-actuated push rod for the cap extending movably through the guard and having an interlocking connection with the cap, said connection including in its structure a passage open transversely through the cap whereby the cap may be released from the push rod when moved by thespring action of the rod to the limit of its separation from the guard.

1'7. A safety razor, having in combination, a co-operating o-ne-piece cap and a guard, said cap being connected to said guard for limited separation, a spring-actuated push rod detachably locked to the cap for retaining it in clamping position and acting under the actuation of its spring for separating it from the guard when released, and means for limiting the movement of the push rod in separating the cap and guard.

HENRY J. GAISMAN. 

